Inside Stories

A School for Berta

Inside Stories

Poland

A teacher follows what she believes is God’s leading to serve at Poland’s Adventist school, changing both her life and her son’s.

Berta was excited when she heard that the first Seventh-day Adventist church school had opened in Poland. She was a highly qualified teacher and was looking for work. She would love to teach children at a Seventh-day Adventist school.

But there was a problem. The Adventist school was located near Poland’s capital, Warsaw, far away from her home in Krakow.

“This is not the job for me,” Berta thought, sadly.

Then a friend unexpectedly started talking to her about the Seventh-day Adventist school.

“Maybe you could apply to teach there,” the friend said.

“No, it’s too far away,” Berta replied.

It seemed more realistic to look for work in Krakow. Then another friend told her about the Adventist school.

“I heard about this Adventist school,” the friend said. “Maybe you would like to apply to be a teacher there.”

After the second friend mentioned the school, Berta wondered whether God might be trying to tell her something about becoming a teacher there.

She prayed, “God, what should I do? Should I stay in Krakow, or go to the school?”

Berta decided to apply for two teaching jobs— at the public school in Krakow and at the Seventh-day Adventist school outside Warsaw.

“I will go to the first school that replies to my job application,” she prayed. “God, I will interpret it as Your will.”

The Adventist school was the first to write back.

“Thank you for your interest in the teaching position,” the reply said. “Please come in for a job interview.”

Then Berta got worried. She had a 16-year-old son named Jacob. His school and friends were in Krakow. Would he be willing to move to another place?

Berta prayed again. She decided to give Jacob the option of staying with a relative in Krakow or going with her to the new school.

Jacob didn’t hesitate. “Mother, let’s make the move together,” the boy said. “I want to be with you.”

Berta was surprised and pleased. For her, his words seemed like the latest indication that God was guiding her path.

She took the job. Today, Berta is the principal of the Seventh-day Adventist elementary school, which is located on the grounds of the Adventist Church’s seminary outside Warsaw. She has no doubt that God led her to the school. And her son affirmed she had made the right decision. He said he had not had any Adventist friends in Krakow and had not been interested in church activities. But now he has many Adventist friends and is active in the church.

“Mom, you made a good decision in coming here,” he said. “I’m so glad that we

are here.”

Berta said she wouldn’t have it any other way. God brought her to the school, and she is happy.

“That’s why I am here,” she says.

Thank you for your Sabbath School mission offerings that help support Seventh-day Adventist education in Poland and around the world.

Gina Wahlen

is the editor of Adventist Mission’s Sabbath School mission quarterlies and Inside Stories

A School for Berta

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